Dispensing containers



Feb. 26, 1963 L. A. MICALLEF 3,073,497

DISPENSING CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 29, 1960 FIGI FIG 2 20 FIGS I7 I6 I I I4 2 I I 2 6 I I FIG? I INVENTOR LEWIS A. MICALLEF ATTORNEY United States Patent O "ice.

3,078,497 DTSPENSING CONTAINERS Lewis A. Micallef, New York, N.Y., assignor to Leeds and Micallef, New York, N.Y., a business partnership Filed Dec. 29, 1960, Ser. 'No. 79,249 8 Claims. (Cl. -547) This invention relates to improvements in containers with dispensing applicators for toiletries, cosmetics, and external medications, in liquid, semi-solid and powder form, such as deodorants, depilatories, analgesics, skinlotions, creams, and its principal object is to provide an improved container which will continuously dispense the contents by the movement of the applicator over the surfaceto which" it is applied in any -posit'ion,-vertical, invertcd; or horizontal;

. A further object of the invention is to provide acom. tainersuch as aboveldescribed which will without inversion or agitation, immediately upon deflection of the appli-. cator effect a controlled discharge of the contained substance. 'More particularly this container lS'flIl improve-'- ment on the container described in'my recently granted Patent No. 2,937,791, May 24, 1960, particularly in its capacity to dispense "powders and creams, aswell as.

liquids." I In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention and in said drawings,

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of the dispensing container;

'FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the container with the cap removed and the bottom portion broken away;

FIG. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in the positions they assume when applying the liquid to an overlying surface; I 'FIG.4 is 'a perspective view onan enlarged jscale of the connecting member;.and

FIGS. 5, 6 and'7 are detailed views which will be later described.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and '2, the container comprises five parts, namely, a metal can-like receptacle 1, a connecting member 2, an

' applicator 3, a tube 4 for conveying the liquid from the receptacle portion to the applicator, and a cap'5..

The receptacle portion 1 may be of any size and shape and as shown is a cylindrical metal can of uniform small diameter throughout its axial length, and with one end fully open. The connecting member 2 serves as a liquidtight closure for the receptacle and also as a base for the applicator 3 and for the cap 5. The tube 4 which conveys liquid from the receptacle to the applicator is also supported by the connector.

As shown particularly in FIG. 4, the connector consists of a single molded plastic member having an outer continuous collar-like portion '6 from which depend four spaced projections 7 which are flared slightly outwardly near their lower ends in order to be moved inwardly when the connector is in position in the upper end of the receptacle 1. The inner portion of the connector comprises four arcuate sections 8, forming an inner collar spaced from the collar 6 and concentric therewith. The sections 8 at their lower ends are integral with the proje c tion 7 from the collar 6. Projection inwardly from the sections 8 are four transverse members 11 which are also spaced slightly apart and shaped so that their inner ends form a substantially continuous central bore for receiving and sup-porting tube 4. The tube 4 is formed with spaced enlargements or collars 12 near the upper end which engage the members 11 to hold the tube in place. Above the collars 12 are two enlargements 13 with an intermediate fold so that when the upper end of the tube is deflected in the use of the applicator, it will 3,078,497 Patented Feb. 26, 1963 bend at this point. The collar 6 at its lower portion is of a size to fit snugly in the upper end of the receptacle 1, and is provided with an outwardly extending flange 14 which seats against the upper edge of the receptacle. Projecting upwardly from the collar 6 is a portion of reduced diameter to form a neck for the cap 5. Also formed on this upwardly projecting portion are four spaced lugs 16 for engaging similar lugs 17 on the cap 5 and locking the cap to the collar.

7 The applicator 3 consists of a nipple-like member somewhat flattened on two opposite sides and having at its upper end an inwardly projecting molded sleeve 18 which extends over the upper end of the tube 4 when the parts are assembled. 'The upper portion of the sleeve is of reduced diameter so that when the applicator is pushed 1 down onto the tube or the tube pushed up into the applicator it-will form a liquid-tight joint with the applicator and provide a continuous passage-t0 slits 19 in the upper end of the applicator parallel with the flattened sidesof the applicator. The applicator may be rubber or other elastomeric material.-

The cap 5 is preferably of molded plastic having the same outside diameter as the receptacle 1 and crowned at its lower end with a marginal portion of reduced diameter to fit over the upper portion 15 of the connect ing member 2, and around the lower edge of the cap are the four inwardly projecting lugs 17 which lock under the lugs 16 on the connecting member when the cap is turned after being positioned on the neck of the connecting member. The cap is preferably provided on the inner wall of. the upper end with a small pad 20 of resilient material which serves to cover the slits 17 in the upper end of the nipple to thereby prevent any accidental liquid leakage if the container is inverted or laid on its side.

In assembling the apparatus, the tube is first placed in the collar and is held in place by the four segments 11 projecting inwardly from the inner collar, which fit between the two enlargements 12 of the tube as shown. The applicator 3 is then fitted over the upper end of the tube with its lower margin seated in the space between the two collars 6 and 8 of the connecting member 2. The cap 5 is then fitted over the upper margin of the connecting member and locked in place. The receptacles 1 are filled with the commodity to be applied in conventional filling machines and as they are advanced from the filling machines, the assembled tubes, connecting members,'applicat'ors and caps are fitted into the upper ends of the receptacles. When the connector is thrust into the receptacle the projections 7 are pushed inwardly, bending slightly at their thinnest portion adjacent the collar 6. This bending of the projections causes the upper portions 8 of the projections 7 to press outwardly against the applicator so that its outer surface for-ms a fluid tight contact with the collar 2. The bending of the projections causes the inner ends of the sectors 11 to move inwardly and upwardly, thereby gripping the tube 4 and holding it firmly in place.

FIG. 3 shows the position of the parts when the device is being used. As shown in this figure, in comparison with FIG. 2, it will be noted that the upper end of the tube bends laterally at the knee formed by the two enlargements 13. In doing so, the upper end of the tube is thrust upwardly into the reduced diameter portion of the sleeve 18, and as stated above in this position the tube forms a continuous fluid passage from the bottom of the receptacle to the slits 19 in the end of the applicator.

It will be noted that when the applicator is deflected from its central upright position the space within the applicator is reduced in volume, thereby compressing the air in the nipple and upper part of the receptacle and forcing the contents of the receptacle, which may be a by a to-and-fro Wiping motion of the applicator and each" time the motion is reversed. the parts will assume their normal position shown in FIG. 2. In this position the end of the tube 4 is withdrawn from the reduced portion of the sleeve is thereby allowing an inflow of air to take the place of the discharged material so that on the next deflection of the applicator more will be discharged through the slits.

When the container is inverted to apply the material to an underlying surface, the applicator, including the sleeve 18, will be full of material, but if there is no internal pressure there will be little or no discharge through the slits 19. When, however, the applicator is pressed against the surface the reduction in internal volume will cause a corresponding discharge of material, and the return of the parts to normal positions upon reversal of the wiping movements will effect an intlow of air to replace the discharged material.

My improved receptacle may be used as a dispensing container for delivering controlled amounts of commodities without spreading the delivered material on a surface. It is particularly useful as a container for tooth paste. The receptacle can be held in one hand and the applicator deflected to one side with the fore finger, thereby causing the desired quantity of paste to be discharged through the slits 19.

While the container has to date been used only for the application of pharmaceutical preparations, it is equally useful for applying other pastes or powders, for example, as paint removers, window cleaners, polishing compounds and the like. For such commodities larger receptacles such as bottles with necks of reduced diameter can advantageously be used.

It will be understood that my invention is not limited to the structures herein shown and described except insofar as they are recited in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing container of the class described, a receptacle for the material to be dispensed, an applicator having an internal cavity attached to the upper end of the receptacle, said applicator having a movable portion, the movement of which modifies the internal space of the applicator and receptacle, said applicator having a discharge opening, and a tube within said applicator and extending to near the bottom of the receptacle, said tube and applicator having c-o-operating portions which are spaced apart when the applicator has its maximum internal the receptacle, said applicator having a movable portion,

the movable portion of said applicator being normally positioned to provide the maximum space within the applicator and receptacle and movable by external pressure to reduce said space, said applicator having a discharge opening and a tube within said applicator and extending to near the bottom of the receptacle, said tube and applicator having co-operating portions which provide a continuous conduit from the bottom of the receptacle to the discharge opening when the movable portion of the applicator is displaced to reduce volumetric capacity of the applicator and receptacle said tube and applicator being constructed to provide a vent opening only when the internal capacity of the applicator is substantially maximum.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein the applicator consists of an upstanding hollow member or flexible sheet material with the discharge opening in its outer end.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein the applicator is formed with an inwardly extending sleeve surrounding said discharge opening and extending over said tube.

5. The container of claim 2 wherein the applicator consists of an upstanding hollow conical member of flexible sheet material flattened on two opposite sides with the discharge opening in its apex.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein the applicator is formed with an inwardly extending sleeve surrounding said discharge opening and extending over said tube.

7. The container of claim 6 wherein the internal diameter of said sleeve at its lower end is greater than the external diameter of the tube and of reduced diameter adjacent said discharge opening.

8. The container of claim 3 wherein the receptacle, the applicator and the tube are joined by a molded plastic member fitting the open end of the receptacle and having portions shaped to hold the tube and the applicator when the member is seated on the receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,577,321 Filger Dec. 4, 1951 7 2,774,518 Greene Dec. 18, 1956 2,949,621 Clement et al Aug. 23, 1960 UNITED STATES PATE-NTCFFICE I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No., 3378,49? February 26, 1963 Lewis A. Micallefv It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the s'eid LettersPatent shouldread as corrected below. 7

Column 1, lines 61 and :62, for "projection" read projections line 62, for "Projection"read; ".Pr0jecting "-0 I Signed and sealed this 19th da ly 1963,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w, SWIDER P P- f ACgt ing Commissioner: of. Patents Attesting Officer 

1. IN A DISPENSING CONTAINER OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A RECEPTACLE FOR THE MATERIAL TO BE DISPENSED, AN APPLICATOR HAVING AN INTERNAL CAVITY ATTACHED TO THE UPPER END OF THE RECEPTACLE, SAID APPLICATOR HAVING A MOVABLE PORTION, THE MOVEMENT OF WHICH MODIFIES THE INTERNAL SPACE OF THE APPLICATOR AND RECEPTACLE, SAID APPLICATOR HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING, AND A TUBE WITHIN SAID APPLICATOR AND EXTENDING TO NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE RECEPTACLE, SAID TUBE AND APPLICATOR HAVING CO-OPERATING PORTIONS WHICH ARE SPACED APART WHEN THE APPLICATOR HAS ITS MAXIMUM INTERNAL CAPACITY AND ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER TO PROVIDE A CONTINUOUS LIQUID-TIGHT CONDUIT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE RECEPTACLE TO THE DISCHARGE OPENING WHEN THE MOVABLE PORTION OF THE APPLICATOR IS DISPLACED TO REDUCE VOLEMETRIC CAPACITY OF THE APPLICATOR AND RECEPTACLE. 